Godfather Of House Music, Frankie Knuckles, Dies At 59

Christina Dogas

Staff Writer

@chrissyyydeee

At the age of 59, the Godfather of House music, Frankie Knuckles, has passed away unexpectedly in his home.

Frankie Knuckles was originally from the Bronx, New York. As a teenager,  Knuckles and his best friend, Larry Philpot began going to New York clubs such as the Sanctuary and Tamburlaine. Later, he spun popular dance music at various nightclubs and helped House music become a well known genre of music.

Knuckles and Philpot worked together at two popular disco clubs, the Gallery and the Continental Baths. By 1977, both men had started their own clubs in different cities. Knuckles moved to Chicago, where an old friend opened a club called “The Warehouse”, at 206 South Jefferson Street. Whilst is it now a law office, it is because of this club that Knuckles began sharpening his sound and style.

Knuckles returned back home to New York in 1988, and worked residencies at several clubs-the World, the Roxy, the Sound Factory, and Sound Factory Bar among them—and began working withmanager Judy Weinstein and  DJ David Morales to form Def Mix Productions, which went on to change completely what it meant to be a club remixer.

His remix work includes Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Hercules & Love Affair.

His death is as yet unexplained. Our thoughts go out to Knuckles’ family and friends, and he will surely be remembered fondly by the musical community he did so much for.